Three Killed In San Diego Ford Expedition SUV Rollover Crash

Three people from Los Angeles were killed in an SUV rollover crash when their 2001 Ford Expedition had a tire blowout and veered out of control.

According to a KABC news report, the fatal crash occurred the afternoon of December 20, 2014 in Fallbrook.

California Highway Patrol officials said the driver, 25-year-old Jerson Ariel Duron Valeriano and five passengers were traveling south on
the Interstate 15 near Gopher Canyon Road when their SUV had a tire blowout.

Tire Blowout Caused Rollover

A sheriff’s deputy who was driving directly behind the SUV saw one of its rear tires sudden shred to pieces. The vehicle went out of control, hit a metal divider, rolled over and landed on the northbound side of the freeway.

Valeriano, his 22-year-old wife Edith Duron and Ivette Garcia, 21, were all killed in the rollover crash. The couple’s 2-year-old daughter was not injured. Two other family members, a man and a woman, suffered minor to moderate injuries. The toddler was restrained in her car seat.

Officials suspect that two out of the three deceased victims were not buckled up. The crash is still under investigation.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of everyone who was killed in this crash. Our hearts go out to the 2-year-old girl who lost both her parents in this horrible crash. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

SUV Rollovers

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), rollovers are much more common for SUVs and pickups than for cars, and more common for SUVs than for pickups. In 2012, the agency reports that 55 percent of SUV occupants killed in crashes were in vehicles that rolled over.

In comparison 46 percent of deaths in pickups and 24 percent of deaths in cars were in rollovers. SUVs and pickups are more frequently involved in rollovers because of their design. They are taller and have greater ground clearance. They have a higher center of gravity, which makes them more prone to rollovers than other lower-riding vehicles.

Thorough Investigation Needed

The nationally renowned auto defect attorneys at Bisnar Chase have represented victims of Ford SUV rollover crashes and their families. These vehicles have inherent design flaws and many still have defective tires.

It is important in this case to look into what caused the tire blowout. It is also crucial to investigate if the victims were not wearing their seatbelts or if they were killed in spite of being buckled up.

Law enforcement agencies often lack the expertise and resources it takes to delve into these details and make such crucial determinations. Victims and families in such cases would be well advised to seek the counsel and guidance of a well-respected auto product liability law firm that will help protect their rights and hold the automaker or parts manufacturer accountable.

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